No matter what industry you work in, you want to know that you’re going to be safe and healthy while you’re on the clock. Generally, OSHA regulations and other safety guidelines provide a solid basis for workplace safety across multiple industries, however, there are a few safety tips you can use to keep both yourself and your coworkers as safe as possible. Remember to recommend these safety tips to your fellow employees next chance you get and keep your workplace healthy.
Wear Proper Protective Gear
Almost every major manufacturing or warehouse job has some degree of protective gear that should be worn, and more safety requirements can be found across other industries as well. While some of these requirements can seem irritating or unnecessary at times, they’re vital to keeping you safe on the job, especially if something should go wrong while you’re working. Lack of proper fall protection remains the number one most frequent OSHA violation. If you accidentally slip and fall at work, you’ll want to be protected; be sure you’re properly wearing any gear that’s required to complete the job.
Keep Equipment Properly Calibrated
In any manufacturing job, one of the primary things to keep an eye on is the state of the equipment and materials that you’re working with. Equipment that isn’t well-calibrated could be a potential hazard on the job site. For example, if you use refrigerated trailers to ship your goods, make sure they’re calibrated to their optimal temperature range. Even in a best-case scenario, improperly calibrated equipment can lead to losses for the company due to misinformation or bad readings. Be especially careful when working with potentially dangerous materials like gases. ISEA recommends more frequent gas calibration testing if environmental conditions that could affect instrument performance are suspected, such as sensor poisons. ISEA allows for less frequent calibration verification under certain conditions, but the interval between testing should never exceed 30 days.
Renew Licenses And Review Training
While guidelines for operating different pieces of machinery are different depending on the equipment in question, many regularly used machines will require licensing or training in order to safely operate. After all, while most people working in a warehouse might know how to operate a forklift, the average person outside of that environment wouldn’t know where to start. Even if you think you’re a pro at handling all types of machinery your job requires, it’s important to update yourself on safe handling of machinery on a regular basis. Be sure to renew any licenses or certifications that your job requires for safe handling of equipment, or you may find that your clearance to use the machines you need has expired. For example, forklift operators must be trained and authorized, a process that requires renewal every three years. While you might still technically know how to safely operate a forklift after that three-year time span, you’ll want to keep your authorization up to date just in case. Besides, technology can change, and sometimes you may learn a thing or two about a new feature on your regularly-used machinery.
Remind Others About Inspections
Unfortunately, one person can only do so much to make their workplace a safer environment. Not every employee is able to change a workplace to make it safer and healthier for everyone on a larger scale, but you can at least help remind those around you about steps they can be taking. For example, when was the last time your supervisor scheduled inspections for your workplace? It’s possible that your company could be overdue for an inspection or regular building maintenance. For example, make sure that any heating or cooling systems you have in your workplace are clean and up to date to ensure comfort of everyone on the job. At the very least, HVAC systems need to be inspected twice yearly for maximum efficiency. If you suspect something might be out of date or wrong in the building you work in, find out who you can talk to to address the problem as soon as possible. Bringing up issues on the job is important to keeping both you and your coworkers safe and healthy while at work.
Health And Safety Making Businesses Better
Overall, while individual employees can only do so much to improve the health and safety of a company, more people working together can keep a job site safe. Even though the average workstation has shrunk to 39 square feet on average, safety is still a must. Talk to your coworkers today and suggest these tips so you can help keep everyone you work with safe.
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